Ladder.



Patented Nov. 20, 1900.

I. M. DILLMAN.

' LADDER.

(Application filed July 16. 1900A (No Model.)

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A TTORNE Y5 WITNESSES rrnn TATES ATENT OFFICE LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 662,060, dated. November 20, 1900.

Application filed July 16,1900. serial No. 23,831. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known thatv I, IRA M. DILLMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at 524 Telegraph avenue, Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvementsin Ladders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of said invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it most nearly appertains to make, use, and practice the same.

This invention relates to improvements in ladders, and more particularly to that class of ladders for orchard use; and it consists in the novel construction and arrangement of the parts as hereinafter fully set forth.

The object sought to be accomplished is to so construct a ladder of this type that it may be built to a suitable height and yet combine simplicity, strength, and steadiness. Heretofore ladders for fruit-picking have failed to accomplish this object by reason of their construction. It has been usual to form a ladder of two side pieces set widely apart at the bottom and converging toward the top, and this has necessitated the placing of long steps near the bottom, shortening as they come upward. The bottom steps in consequence of their length have weakened the construction, necessitating tie-rods between the side pieces of the ladder. This also has the disadvantage of being hard to place near the center branches of the trees. In these ladders, being supported by a single brace, it has been impossible to so attach the braces to the ladder as to insure firmness.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an isometrical perspective of a ladder constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a similar perspective of the bracket. used in securing the side pieces and the top step together, said bracket also forming a mounting for the brace-rod. Fig. 3 is a similar perspective of one of the side pieces on the head of the bracerod.

My ladder is built as follows: The side pieces A are secured at the top by means of the corner pieces or brackets B, secured to the under side of the platform A, and riveted to the upper ends of the side pieces A. The lower ends of the side pieces A are secured to the horizontal crosspieces A so that said side pieces are at the bottom about the same distance apart as at the top. The step approximately two-thirds of the distance up the ladder is made of slightly-greater length than those intervening, the other steps being shorter according to their distance from this point. This gives to the side pieces Aa bow shape, as shown in the drawings at Fig. 1, taking ad vantage of the well-known principle in mechanics. This bow shape obviates the necessity of tie-rods between the side pieces A, as there is' a constant pressure against the ends of the steps inwardly. At a suitable distance from the bottom of the ladder side pieces or braces A are extended outwardly, their lower ends being mortised to the extremity of the cross-piece A thus giving the necessary breadth to the base of the ladder, insuring said ladder maintain ng an upright position well as conducing steadiness. The brace-rod O is pivoted between the brackets B at the point C by means of the angularlybent pieces 0, secured to the head of the rod 0. Each bracket B consists of an integral piece of sheet metal bent in the form shown in Fig. 2, the metal being bent to a rightangle on its length and the flanges B, turned within the angle to form a means of securing the platform A, thereto.

In building ladders in accordance with this invention of various heights it is unnecessary to alter the proportions of the brackets B and the a-ngularly-bent pieces 0, or the form of the braces A and cross-piece A as it is obvious that the length would out no fig.

ure with relation to the proportions of these two elements. This adds an element of economyin the construction. The step A which is somewhat broader than the others, is provided with a recess A within which the brace-rod C may be secured when the ladder is not in use. The braces A are so placed as to go below the lower limbs of the average fruit-tree. This reduces the liability of injury to the limbs as well as obviating the necessity of spreading them apart to admit the width of the ladder.

Having thus described this invention, it is claimed- 1. In a ladder, the combination of side pieces secured at both ends and bowed outwardlyintermediate their ends, steps of graduated length secured between said side pieces, a horizontal cross-piece at the base of the ladder to which the lower ends of said side pieces are secured, said cross-piece extending beyond the breadth of the ladder, oblique braces secured to the ends of said horizontal cross-piece and the sides of the ladder, securing members for the upper ends of the side pieces of the ladder, said securing members consisting of angularly-bent sheet metal secured to the platform of the ladder, and a brace for the ladder pivoted between the upper ends of the said side pieces; substantially as described.

2. In a ladder, side pieces, brackets secured thereto, said brackets consisting of IRA M. DILLMAN.

Witnesses:

BALDWIN VALE, JNo. Si ROBBINS. 

